Still ostensibly based in Los Angeles, The Freeks have nonetheless amassed a new lineup that spans both coasts and in between. Coming off of 2018’s Crazy World (review here), the group has shifted Ruben Romano from guitar/vocals to drums and brought in Ed Mundell — known for his work in prior work in Monster Magnet and The Atomic Bitchwax as well as the more recent The Ultra Electric Mega Galactic — and Craig Riggs, vocalist of Boston’s Roadsaw and Kind and drummer for L.A.’s own Sasquatch, to take on guitarist and frontman duties, respectively.

In the meantime, Romano and returning guitarist Jonathan Hall have also picked up bassist Ray Piller of Ohio weirdos Biblical Proof of UFOs, completing a new five-piece that needs to shut up and go make a record immediately. Like, hey guys, stop what you’re doing today and go fucking record. You say you don’t have songs yet? Doesn’t matter. Get in the studio for two days, jam out, piece it together later and hand it to Riggs to throw vocals on. Dude’s good for it. Just make it happen. I want a June release date, and I want to hear a completed master by, let’s say, three weeks from now. If you wanted to shoot some raw mixes over in the interim, that’s acceptable as well. Chop-chop. Time’s a-wastin’.

Their actual plans involve making a stage debut at the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest on March 28 in Los Angeles, which Earthless will headline. I guess if they wanted to record that set and put that out the first week of April or thereabouts, that’d be fine too. Just something. The sooner the better. Make it happen.

From the PR wire:

The Freeks New Lineup! Feat. Ed Mundell!

The Freeks have recently been laying low, sinking themselves neck deep in a songwriting frenzy, while at the same time refreshing itself with rearranging some positions and transferring in some new blood.

Ruben has never really stopped playing drums but now after nine years of fronting the band vocally with guitar in hand, he has returned to rightfully regain his reign, deep seated once again on his drum throne! To excite the matter thus even more, enter Ed Mundell on guitar! Yes Mundell! Guitar hero from the likes of Monster Magnet, Atomic Bitchwax and The Ultra Electric Mega Galactic. The two have been longtime friends since they toured together on a shared Monster Magnet/Fu Manchu bill that traveled throughout the East Coast, MidWest and Canada back in the late 90’s.

Holding the groovest(sic) rhythm section alongside Ruben is Ray Piller on bass, who still sometimes rumbles with 25-plus year old original Cleveland, Ohio noise makers Biblical Proof of UFOs. Still in the mix is Freeks longtime guitar slinger Jonathan Hall who together with Ed can only summon the most exciting duel lead guitar action since Wayne Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith did with the MC5. This lineup is destined to be legendary and from the way things have been coming together during rehearsal it is most definitely something that should be not only heard but witnessed!

This new band of FREEKS debuts this line up on Saturday March 28th as openers for the now heralded “HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST” in Los Angeles at “The Moroccan Lounge”.

Joining them on stage to lend a growling hand will be Vocalist Craig Riggs from the Boston based band ROADSAW who also tackled a lot of miles touring with both Ruben and Ed during their Nebula and The Atomic Bitchwax periods.

The HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST, L.A. is an incredible one night bill with the lineup being:
Earthless
Danava
Crypt Trip
High Reeper
The Freeks

The Freeks are:
Ed Mundell – Guitar
Jonathan Hall – Guitar
Ray Piller – bass
Craig Riggs – vocals
Ruben Romano – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/TheFreeks/
https://www.instagram.com/the_freeks/
http://www.thefreeks.com/
http://www.heavypsychsounds.com/

Tags: California, Heavy Psych Sounds, Los Angeles, The Freeks

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